Howell's School, Llandaff

Howell's School, Llandaff Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18 and boys aged 16 to 18 in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.

Howell's School is part of the GDST (Girls’ Day School Trust). The GDST is the leading network of independent girls’ schools in the UK, with nearly 4,000 staff, and 20,000 students between the ages of three and 18. As a charity that owns and runs a network of 24 schools and two academies in England and Wales, it reinvests all its income in its schools. Howell's School, located at Llandaff, in Card

iff, caters for girls aged 3 -18 and for boys aged 16 -18. It has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence as the foremost girls' school in Wales. It provides tremendous "value added" in terms of public examination results, which are consistently higher than predicted in independent assessments. Since 2005, boys have been admitted to the Sixth Form College. Founded in 1860, the school is housed in the original buildings of great character as well as more modern extensions and nearby buildings such as Roald Dahl's childhood home. The Junior and Senior School are on the same site but are self-contained entities, though the Junior School benefits from the facilities of the Senior School, including the indoor swimming pool. A friendly and purposeful atmosphere pervades the school, which keeps abreast of modern educational developments. The facilities are outstanding, as is the extensive programme of extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to excel in any area in which they show interest or talent, not purely the academic. Links with overseas schools, superb I.T. facilities, great environmental awareness (the school has gained Fair Trade status) and a wide variety of language provision all serve to create tomorrow's global citizens. The school encourages independence of thought and provides a confidence-building environment. There is a strong emphasis on pastoral care. The Careers Department has attained the CareersWales Award for the quality of its guidance.

22/05/2026

🏑 FREE Girls’ Hockey Masterclass 🏆

Celebrating our Howell’s U12, U14 & U16 CHAMPIONS 🎉

Join us on Saturday 27th June for an exciting hockey masterclass designed to inspire the next generation of players.

✨ Specialist coaching
✨ Skills & challenges
✨ Fun, confidence & teamwork
✨ Q&A and guidance
✨ FREE to attend

Sessions available for:
🏑 Ages 9–11
🏑 Ages 12–14

Places are limited — sign up now via the link in bio!

This week, Year 6 had an exciting and hands-on visit from our School Nurse, Leasa, who led an engaging session on basic ...
22/05/2026

This week, Year 6 had an exciting and hands-on visit from our School Nurse, Leasa, who led an engaging session on basic first aid skills. They began by exploring the contents of a first aid kit, discussing what items are essential and why each one is important in an emergency situation.

The session then moved on to practical activities, where the girls had the opportunity to practise bandaging techniques on one another. They approached this with great enthusiasm, demonstrating teamwork as well as care and attention to detail.

It was a fantastic opportunity for them to build confidence, develop important life skills and gain a better understanding of how to respond in everyday situations.

Year 5 & 6 Charity Stalls – A Sunny Afternoon of Enterprise and GivingToday, our Year 5 and 6 girls hosted their much-an...
21/05/2026

Year 5 & 6 Charity Stalls – A Sunny Afternoon of Enterprise and Giving

Today, our Year 5 and 6 girls hosted their much-anticipated charity stalls—and what an incredible success it was!
This independent activity gives the girls the opportunity to organise their own stalls, either individually or in groups, choosing what to sell and which charity to support. From homemade crafts to lucky dips and “guess the name of the teddy,” there was a wonderful variety of creative ideas on display!

The girls showed fantastic teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication, working together to bring their ideas to life. Not only did they have fun, but they also developed valuable enterprise and philanthropy skills; something we are incredibly proud to see.
It was lovely to see our younger pupils so excited as they visited each stall, supporting their older peers and helping to raise money for a range of worthwhile charities.
A huge well done to everyone involved for your creativity, effort, and generosity; you made today truly special!

We are incredibly proud of our wonderful Prep School ELSA team: Mrs Maitland-Evans, Mrs Lane, Mrs Holland, and most impo...
15/05/2026

We are incredibly proud of our wonderful Prep School ELSA team: Mrs Maitland-Evans, Mrs Lane, Mrs Holland, and most importantly,
Wanda.

ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, and over the past three years the programme has become an invaluable part of school life. The team has supported so many girls through a wide range of challenges, helping them to build confidence, resilience, emotional awareness, and positive wellbeing.

Through kindness, understanding, and dedicated support, our ELSA team helps ensure every girl feels listened to, valued, and supported throughout her journey at Howell’s Prep.

We are so grateful for the care and commitment they bring to our school community every single day. 🐾

“Every day is filled with creativity - from imaginative play and outdoor adventures to early learning activities that sp...
14/05/2026

“Every day is filled with creativity - from imaginative play and outdoor adventures to early learning activities that spark curiosity and confidence.”

Our parents often tell us how much their children thrive through the caring relationships, exciting activities and joyful learning experiences we provide each day in our Nursery. Our girls are encouraged to explore, discover, create and grow in a warm, nurturing environment where they are known and valued.

If you are looking for a nurturing start for your daughter’s educational journey, we would love to welcome you for a tour and show you what makes our nursery so special.

Find out more about our Nursery here https://www.howells-school-llandaff.gdst.net/nursery/applying-to-the-nursery/

Get in touch to arrange a visit and discover the difference for yourself. https://www.howells-school-llandaff.gdst.net/admissions/joining-howells-school/

08/05/2026

🏑 FREE Girls’ Hockey Masterclass 🏆

Celebrating our Howell’s U12, U14 & U16 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🎉

Join us on Saturday 27th June for an exciting hockey masterclass designed to inspire the next generation of players.

✨ Specialist coaching
✨ Skills & challenges
✨ Fun, confidence & teamwork
✨ Q&A and guidance
✨ FREE to attend

Sessions available for:
🏑 Ages 9–11
🏑 Ages 12–14

Places are limited — sign up now https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=kJvot5AbE0W0bQgD3jrNpKk4ivA0IupOhiG6UHKABG1UMjEyQ0lKQVNQNEhPSDk0SEUwTkU0NUxEUi4u&route=shorturl Howell's School,

Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the world’s greatest storytellers and naturalists, David Attenborough.At...
08/05/2026

Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the world’s greatest storytellers and naturalists, David Attenborough.

At Howell’s, Sir David has inspired generations of students — from our youngest girls, captivated by the extraordinary animals and landscapes in his documentaries, to older students aspiring to careers in ecology, conservation, broadcasting, narration and the sciences.

We were especially delighted today when Mrs Helen Evans, one of the longest-serving members of our Science Department, shared a wonderful photograph from the early 1990s. In it, she appears alongside the Head of Science, Mrs Jackson, and our then Headmistress (and fellow chemist), Jane Fitz, receiving an award for excellence in science teaching from Sir David himself.

A remarkable memory, and a reminder of the enduring power of curiosity, education and care for the natural world.

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David — and thank you for continuing to inspire our school community and so many others around the globe.

Our Year 6 girls recently returned from an unforgettable five-day residential in the Brecon Beacons — a week full of cha...
07/05/2026

Our Year 6 girls recently returned from an unforgettable five-day residential in the Brecon Beacons — a week full of challenge, courage, leadership and growth.

From canoeing and caving to gorge walking and climbing, the girls embraced every opportunity with determination and enthusiasm. They stepped outside their comfort zones, took risks, supported one another and discovered just how capable they truly are.

Whether navigating through unfamiliar landscapes, encouraging teammates during difficult moments, or showing resilience when faced with physical and mental challenges, the girls demonstrated outstanding bravery and teamwork throughout the week.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the trip was seeing the girls grow in confidence and leadership. They learned to take responsibility, solve problems independently and lift each other up every step of the way. The power of girls supporting girls was evident in every activity, every challenge and every success.

We are incredibly proud of every single girl for the courage, perseverance and kindness they showed throughout this special experience. The memories, friendships and life skills gained during the week will stay with them for years to come.

Today we said farewell to our remarkable Year 13 students, the Class of 2026.They marked their final day in true Howell’...
06/05/2026

Today we said farewell to our remarkable Year 13 students, the Class of 2026.

They marked their final day in true Howell’s style—returning to their old school uniforms (plus a sprinkling of fancy dress) and gathering in the Great Hall for a special brunch, farewell speeches, and a moving slideshow of memories spanning their years with us.

Last week, they led their final assembly, reflecting on a journey that began for many in Nursery. As one student shared, “We’ve gone from running around at break time to spending many hours studying."

Their speeches spoke of friendship, resilience, and navigating uncertainty. “Life is unpredictable,” one student reflected, “but the sooner we realise that, the sooner we can get on the path we want to take.” Others spoke of the importance of perspective—“Think of how your younger self would see you now… and imagine their pride in you.”

They also reminded us of the power of community: friendships formed in unexpected ways, teachers who made a lasting impact, and memories that will stay with them for life.

As they leave, they do so with gratitude and pride. In their own words, “We successfully made it through Howell’s and are proud to be the class of 2026.”

We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for everything you’ve brought to our school community.

Wishing you all the very best for the exciting journeys ahead—once a Howell’s student, always part of our community. Class of 2026, you will be missed.

A small group of Year 5 girls were lucky enough to attend a special GDST event at the Globe Theatre last week. They bega...
05/05/2026

A small group of Year 5 girls were lucky enough to attend a special GDST event at the Globe Theatre last week. They began the day by watching a selection of sword fighting in the Sam Wanamaker Theatre; a very exciting and vigorous introduction to dramatic stage combat. There was also an enlightening explanation that Shakespeare did not condone fighting and it was only ever used as an end solution in his plays, his main message was that ‘Love is the solution’ and that we should always choose love.

Following the demonstration the girls then toured around the Globe theatre and they enjoyed being ‘Groundlings’ and visiting the stage via the pit. The stage was beautifully dressed for a production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and at times they had to be really quiet as filming was taking place. Two practical workshops then took place where the girls explored elements of ‘The Winter’s Tale’ through the themes of ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Lively Action’ delivered by the Globe Education Practitioners. To complete the day the girls were treated to a one-person, storytelling performance of The Winter’s Tale.

The girls also enjoyed seeing many of the sights along the North and South Banks of the River Thames. Crossing both the Millennium Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge were really exciting, especially when they learned about how both bridges appeared in different Harry Potter films. Back at Paddington station, photos with Paddington Bear topped the day off.

The girls were excellent ambassadors for Howell’s Prep, always respectful and appreciative of everything they encountered. A fantastic day out had by all!

Address

Howell's School
Cardiff
CF52YD

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